Italian school; second half of the 17th century "St. Christopher". Oil on canvas. Re-enteled.

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OLD MASTERS

By Setdart Auction House

Jul 14, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-07-14 06:30:00 2021-07-14 06:30:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : OLD MASTERS https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/setdart-auction-house/old-masters-7202
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• Lot Description
  Italian school; second half of the 17th century "St. Christopher". Oil on canvas. Re-enteled. Presents faults, humidity and repainting. Size: 108 x 80,5 cm. Work of devotional character in which the author represents San Cristobal with the Child. Cristobal is a fabulous saint, whose legend does not go back beyond the XI century, originated by the development of his name, Cristoforo, that in Greek means "the one that carries Christ". Originally, this expression was understood in a spiritual sense, as the one who carries Christ in his heart. Later it was taken in a material sense. According to the tradition popularized during the 13th century by the Golden Legend, the man who had carried Christ on his shoulders could only be a giant. Proud of his strength, he only agreed to serve the most powerful king in the universe. He placed himself in the service of a monarch, but realizing that the latter was afraid of the devil, he left him to serve Satan. Disappointed again that the sight of a cross at a crossroads was enough to defeat the devil, he pledged himself to serve Christ, and to please him he devoted himself to helping travelers and pilgrims across a dangerous river. One evening he heard himself called by a child, who asked him to carry him on his shoulders; but his burden grew heavier and heavier. So much so, that the giant reached the opposite bank with difficulty. Then the child made himself known as Christ. To prove it to him, he asked Christopher to plant his staff in the ground, which immediately became a palm tree laden with fruit. Its technical characteristics link this piece closely to the work of Orazio Borgianni (Rome, ca. 1575-1616). Orazio Borgianni began his training in the Roman Mannerist style, soon becoming interested in the Venetian colorist style and in the work of El Greco when he arrived in Spain, where he was possibly on two occasions. His work has a certain influence of Caravaggio's tenebrism, which he combines with the pictorial concentration of the Venetians and his own personal mark. In this sense, it is characterized by the use of a toasted palette, that is to say, of earthy and ocher colors.
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